9: Chapter 9 Acting Skills

The Arena, Virtual Battle Room.

Jiang Nan and Little Skeleton found themselves in a pitch-black room.

Just then, a cold, synthesized electronic voice echoed in his ears.

[Beast Tamer detected entering the Virtual Battle Room. Please select the type of training you wish to undergo!]

In an instant, a square light screen appeared in front of Jiang Nan.

Three options were displayed on the light screen: Custom Battle Plan, Random Battle Plan, and Arena Ranked Battle.

Jiang Nan looked at Little Skeleton beside him, pondered for a moment, and chose the Custom Battle Plan. His main purpose for this trip was to increase his and Little Skeleton's combat experience.

"Select Custom Battle Plan. Set the enemy's strength to Bronze One-Star, random race!"

[Selection successful. Generating battle target... Generation successful!]

[Please enjoy your battle!]

Almost instantly, a massive wild boar with long tusks protruding from both sides of its mouth appeared twenty meters away from Jiang Nan and Little Skeleton.

As the top student of Zizhu Middle School's Liberal Arts Department, Jiang Nan recognized the wild boar's identity at a single glance.

The Iron-Skinned Wild Boar, one of the most common types of magical beasts in the wild. Its strength and defense were among the best of its level, making it the least favorite opponent for all Apprentice Beast Masters.

"Ya!"

Little Skeleton was startled and quickly hid behind Jiang Nan with a swift step.

Seeing this, Jiang Nan's face instantly darkened. A Spirit Pet hiding behind its Beast Tamer? This was completely turning the natural order upside down!

After his initial anger, Jiang Nan felt mostly relieved. Thank goodness he had come here before heading to school.

Otherwise, if people at school saw this, he would probably be laughed at for who knows how long.

"Little Skeleton, this is a simulated battle. Why are you hiding behind me?"

"Ya!"

Little Skeleton shook her head frantically, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar.

She was just a delicate young lady, so how could she possibly be a match for this big guy?

"Roar!!!"

Giving Jiang Nan no time to continue mentally preparing her, the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar roared and charged toward him.

Although the strength of a Bronze One-Star was completely negligible, Jiang Nan's goal on this trip was to help Little Skeleton overcome her fear of fighting, so he kept dodging without attacking.

"Little Skeleton, it's only Bronze One-Star. It's no match for you at all. You have to believe in yourself!"

"Ya-ah-ah-ah!"

Little Skeleton's skeletal frame trembled violently. She curled up and squatted down, holding her head in her hands, completely dominated by fear.

[Little Skeleton is terrified! She believes the wild boar will tear her to shreds and is in absolute panic!]

Seeing this, Jiang Nan was also at a loss for a moment.

He kept dodging the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar's attacks when suddenly, he remembered that in addition to being cowardly, Little Skeleton also had a "love-brain" personality trait.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and quickly dashed out of the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar's attack range.

Seeing that it couldn't catch Jiang Nan, the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar angrily snorted a cloud of white mist and turned its gaze toward the shivering Little Skeleton.

"Roar!!!"

The Iron-Skinned Wild Boar charged forward like a small mountain, looking ready to smash Little Skeleton to pieces.

"Little Skeleton, watch out!"

Just then, Jiang Nan let out a loud shout and lunged forward, blocking the path in front of Little Skeleton.

Spreading his arms to shield Little Skeleton behind him, his body took the full force of the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar's impact. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

Seeing this, Little Skeleton's eyes widened in shock. She never expected that Jiang Nan would block the blow to save her.

[Little Skeleton is in a complete panic. She didn't expect you to get hurt and is extremely anxious.]

She quickly ran over to Jiang Nan and grabbed his hand. Seeing this, the latter pretended to be gravely injured, breathing weakly as he forced a painful smile.

"I'm sorry... I didn't consider your feelings. I was just too self-righteous, thinking that any Spirit Pet should learn to fight..."

"Unfortunately, I am only human after all. I can never possess the powerful strength of a Spirit Pet."

"I wanted to protect you, but only now do I realize how overconfident I was..."

"My dream is to become the strongest Beast Tamer, but if my dream makes things difficult for you and puts you in danger... then, I'll just give it up."

A man only needs to be slightly tipsy to put on a performance that moves you to tears.

As for Jiang Nan? He hadn't even had a drop of alcohol, yet he could unleash an acting performance worthy of a Best Actor award.

His eyes were reddened to just the right degree, his hands caressed Little Skeleton's face with perfect tenderness, his gaze revealed just the right amount of guilt and loneliness, and he had even bitten his lip at the perfect moment to let a trace of bright red blood trickle down.

Even a legendary director like Lao Mouzi would sing high praises for this scene, let alone Little Skeleton, a simple-minded, old-fashioned skeleton.

"Ya! Ya!!!"

Little Skeleton shook her head frantically, her skeletal frame trembling as she let out a choked cry.

[Little Skeleton's heart is filled with regret and guilt. She doesn't want you to give up on your dream because of her cowardice. She despises her cowardly self, and a strong desire to protect you swells within her heart.]

"Roar!"

Just then, the roar of the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar echoed once more.

However, this time, Little Skeleton was no longer her previous cowardly self. She gently set Jiang Nan down, the deep blue flames in her eye sockets burning fiercely.

[Little Skeleton is furious! She has resolved to protect you and your dream. She wants to tear this ugly creature that hurt you into ten thousand pieces!]

"Ya!!!"

Little Skeleton roared to the heavens. Facing the charging Iron-Skinned Wild Boar, she did not dodge. Instead, she reached out and violently grabbed its two tusks.

The gap between Bronze Six-Star and Bronze One-Star was immense. With a sudden burst of strength, Little Skeleton actually snapped the two tusks right off.

Wasting no time, Little Skeleton pressed her advantage and slammed her palm onto the Iron-Skinned Wild Boar's head.

Crack!

The Iron-Skinned Wild Boar's head instantly exploded, and its body turned into countless glowing data points, dispersing into the room.

"Ya!?"

Little Skeleton looked at her hands, her expression filled with astonishment. She had never expected her own strength to be this formidable.

Seeing this, Jiang Nan finally stood up. He took Little Skeleton's hands and said affectionately, "Little Skeleton, you must learn to believe in your own strength, just as I firmly believe you will never let me down!"

"Are you willing to walk the path ahead with me?"

"I want you to always be by my side, Little Skeleton... A weakling like me needs your protection!"

[Little Skeleton's mind is shaken. Faced with your straightforward words, she feels completely at a loss. Though she still doubts herself, she is willing to give everything for you. If anyone wants to hurt you, it will only happen over her dead body! Affinity +9%, current Affinity is 100%.]

"Ya!"

Little Skeleton nodded firmly, then opened her arms and hugged Jiang Nan tightly.